VCEH hosted a forum in which the National Transitional Jobs Network provided technical assistance to Virginia communities on developing employment strategies specifically for people experiencing homelessness. NTJN developed a series of fact sheets documenting successful employment strategies. Leveraging these strategies, VHA is currently implementing an employment pilot in the Richmond region focused on increasing employment outcomes for rapidly re-housed survivors of domestic violence.

VCEH published The State of Permanent Supportive Housing in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2010 (updated in 2015) to summarize national and local research on the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing and to document permanent supportive housing programs in Virginia. Permanent supportive housing will be a key resource in ending chronic homelessness in the Commonwealth. See the goals and objectives section to find out how the Virginia Housing Alliance is focused on expanding Virginia’s permanent supportive housing stock and helping supportive housing providers build their capacity to deliver the crucial supportive services that our most highly vulnerable neighbors need. Contact VHA to find out how your agency can implement or improve a permanent supportive housing program.

Prevention and Diversion

Preventing homelessness before it occurs is best for the family or individual and is a lower cost intervention than shelter, rapid re-housing, or permanent supportive housing. Follow this link to the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Prevention and Diversion Toolkit – for ways to build the prevention, diversion, and coordinated assessment systems in your community.

Rapid Rehousing

A newer housing intervention built on housing first principles, Rapid Rehousing has become a mainstream model for helping homeless singles and families get into housing as quickly as possible. Moving costs, limited rental assistance and case management attention help to address the issues that caused peoples’ homelessness and provide the best opportunity for them to sustain their housing going forward.

NIMBY or “not in my back yard” is a sentiment used to describe resident or community opposition to housing developments that can often derail efforts to provide affordable and accessible housing to those most in need. Follow the link to some helpful resources from our friends at Housing Virginia that can help you combat NIMBYism in your community.